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Since his 600th win at William Jewell College, coach Larry Holley’s life has been turned upside down.

And yet, to hear him talk, you listen to a man who believes he’s been blessed beyond measure.

The celebration of his 700th victory at Jewell came before the Cardinals’ game against Missouri Valley on Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Mabee Center.

Holley has 788 victories overall, placing him 15th on the all-time wins list for college coaches, regardless of level.

But almost all of them have come from a place he calls home. The place he came to almost 50 years ago to play college basketball. The place he came to coach and raise a family after brief stints at Central Methodist and Northwest Missouri State. The place that has helped him deal with a lifetime’s worth of pain and sorrow in the past four years.

Since win No. 600 at William Jewell, Holley’s whole life has changed. But it hasn’t changed the way he looks at life.

“Life is good,” Holley says all the time. “But life isn’t fair.”

It has been four years since his wife of 31 years, Ann, went into the hospital with breathing problems. She died in March 2006 due to acute respiratory disease syndrome.

“I had a great relationship with Ann and three marvelous daughters, and then, boom, she’s gone,” Holley said.

His son-in-law, Michael Brett, was diagnosed with testicular cancer two months after Ann died. His longtime assistant coach, Lee Kariker, soon succumbed to brain cancer later in the year.

In those times, Holley leaned on his family, his daughters — Lindsay, Lauren and Lacey.

“It makes you think about your priorities in life,” Holley said. “I’m like any other coach, probably, that you get so caught up in your own little world with your players and assistant coaches and trying to win.

“I know I appreciate family more. I think I appreciated it before.”

And it also helped that Holley found love again. Amy Shaff, one of Ann’s best friends while the two were teachers at Ridgeview Elementary, introduced Holley to Linda MacLeod in 2008.

“She said that we needed to find someone for me,” Holley said.

The two began dating and got engaged. But before the wedding, Holley was dealt another blow. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“I propose, and she says yes and before we get married, I found out I have prostate cancer and she decides to battle it with me,” Holley said. “She’s been very supportive, as have my daughters.”

Holley and MacLeod were married on Nov. 1, 2008.

“For one of Ann’s best friends to introduce me to Linda is kind of remarkable,” Holley said. “(Linda) is a retired schoolteacher, like Ann. She’s such a blessing. Annie’s still taking care of me.

“My daughters love her. Certainly losing Ann was an unbelievable shock that it happened. But two years later, to find someone who has become such an important part of my life is remarkable in itself.”

Jewell’s basketball program has also kept Holley busy and motivated. And his oldest daughter Lindsey Brett, Michael’s wife, has noticed a change in his coaching style since her mother passed away.

“The fact that he graduated here in 1967 and came back here to coach shows this is his extended family,” said Lindsay. “He’s home when he’s on the court. He eats, sleeps and breathes basketball. Linda has been so supportive and fantastic. She’s a great addition to our family.

“I’ve never played for my dad, but I get the sense that he’s more of a player’s coach now. I really see that. My dad played for his own father, who was extremely conservative and old-fashioned. I think my dad is a little closer to his boys since mom has been gone.”

Holley’s No. 800 career win is just around the corner, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Both he and his son-in-law now are cancer-free.

He is uncertain how many more wins are to come, but he is certain where they will take place.

“My professional life has been William Jewell,” Holley said. “I do say this a lot, but I don’t think anybody had a better college experience than me. It was the perfect place for me. It isn’t the perfect place, but for me, it was the right place. It’s the right place for me to coach.

“I’ve been blessed to have quality young men and certainly quality assistants and certainly a very, very supportive family. And as long as I feel like I can do it, I will continue to do it at William Jewell.”

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